Twine-binder



(No Model.) I i '5 Sheets-Sheet 1.

A. L. GEER. v

TWINE BINDER.

N 368.665. Patented Aug. 23, 1887.

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A. LGEER. TWINE BINDER.

No. 368,665. Patented Aug. 23,1887.

Invenlar. J12? Zerfl. (fi ter. Z7 Z1210 9 1%? N. PETERS. PhnwLilhogmpher, Washington. D. C.

(No Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet 3.

A; L. GEER.

TWINE BINDER.

No. 368,665. Patented Aug. 23, 1887.

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N, PEYERS. 'PhnQn-Lilhognphur, Wahlnglnn. Di 0.

(No Model.) 5 Sheets-Shet 4. A. L. GEER.

TWINE BINDBRV No. 368,665. Patented Aug. 23, 1887.

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FFl CEa ADELBERT L. GEER, OF PLYMOUTH, MICHIGAN.

TWINE-BINDER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 368,665, dated August 23, 1887.

Application filed May 27, 1886. Serial No. 203,425. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ADELBER'T L. GEER, of Plymouth, in the State of Michigan, have invented new and useful Improvements in Twine- Binders; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompa' nying drawings, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to a new and useful improvement in twine-binders; and the invention consists in the novel construction and operation of the knot-tying devices, in the novel construction and operation of the extractor,

in the novel construction and arrangement of the binding-gear, and of the novel arrangement of the binder-frames, all as more fully hereinafter described, and specifically set forth in the claims.

Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the binding-platform, the knottying devices, the frame for supporting the same, the compressor, and the extractor. Fig. 2 is a plan of the binding-gear as it appears when the bindingplatform is removed. Fig. 3 is a vertical central cross-section in the plane of the bindingarm. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the knottying mechanism. Figs. 5 and 6 are elevations showing the oscillating knotter in three different positions, specifically referred to in the description. Fig. 7 is a plan of the knottying mechanism. Figs. 8 and 9 are crosssections of the knot-tying mechanism with the knotter in different position. Figs. 10 and 11 are perspective views of the twine holding,

cutting, and guiding devices, which form a part of the knot-tying devices. Figs. 12 to 17 are detail views of some of the parts shown in Figs. 10 and 11, and which parts will be found specifically referred to and described hereinafter. Fig. 18 is a perspective view showing the binding-arm, compressor-arm, trip-clutch, and their operating mechanism. Fig. 19 is a sectional plan of the parts shown in Fig. 18. Fig. 20 shows a perspective detail of some portions of the parts shown in Figs. 18 and 19. Fig. 21 is a detached perspective of the combined variable twine tension and locking device, hereinafter specifically referred to. Fig. 22 is a cross-sectionof the free end of the binder-arm. Fig. 23 is a diagram showing the relative movement of the binder-arm and its guard. Fig. 24 is a vertical central section through the knotter-head.

In the drawings I have omitted some devices ordinarily forming a part of the complete binder mechanism-such as what are commonly called packers These devices I intend to arrange in any of the known ways, and they therefore form no part of my improvement. The parts to which my improvement specifically relates are constructed and arranged as follows: The main frame of the binder is constructed in a known manner, except that portion which supports the knottying devices. These devices are attached to the knotter-frame 1,which is held in place the proper distance above the binder-platform by two. trusses, 2, secured at their outer ends to the upright 3 and at the inner ends of the knotter-frame. A bar, 4, connects the two uprights, and to this and the knotter-fran1e the usual breast-plate, 5, is attached, and a tie-rod, 6, connects the bar 4 with the knotterframe.

. 7 By placing the uprights well to the rear, as

shown, the front end and sides of the binderplatform are left perfectly unobstructed, an advantage not obtained heretofore in the construction of the frame in regard to supporting the knot'tying devices. As there is a great strain brought to bear upon the trusses during the tying of the knot,I preferably provide the forward end of the binder-arm 7-with laterally-projecting flanges, S, Fig. 22, which, when the binder-arm in its operation passes through the opening 9 in the knotter frame,engage betweenthe anti-friction rollers 10, (see Figs. 5 and 22,) and thereby hold the knottying mechanism firmly in its relative position to the binder-arm while the knot is being tied. This construction also permits of using relativelylight trusses for holding the knot-tying mechanism in position.

The compressorarm 11, which is sleeved upon the compressor-shaft 12, is concave in cross-section, and is provided with the rockarm 13 and the trippingpin 14, which latter actuates the trip-lever 15. The compressorarm is bifurcated, and between such bifurcations is secured upon the compressor-shaft the rock-arm 16. The latter has secured in its free end the curved bar 17, which passes loosely through a hole in the rock-arm 13, and

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a coil-spring, 18, is placed around it, all so arranged that the operation of the rock-arm 16 actuates the compressor-arm through the medium of the coil spring, while the compressor-arm is free to yield under the tension of the coil-spring.

To the bar 19 of the frame is secured in any convenient manner the bracket 20. (See Figs.

- 18 and 20.) This bracket has lugs 21, which form supports for the binding-platform, and is also providedwith cars 22, to which the bifurcated guard 23 of the binder-arm is pivotally secured. To thesame bracket 20 is pivotally secured at 24 the trip-lever 15, the rear end of which trips the clutch 25 for the purpose of starting the binding mechanism by the yielding of the compressor-arm, as in the ordinary manner.

The clutch is of the usual construction and operation, and is fully shown in detail in Figs. 18 and 20, wherein 106 is a pin movably carried on one part of the clutch, and 107 two stationary or fixed pins on the other part of the clutch. The pin 106 is carried by a little lever, 99, which, by means of a suitable spring, is normally held in such position that the pin 106 may engage with either one of the pins 107 on the other part of the clutch, but is drawn out of engagement therewith whenever the lever 99 strikes against the end of the triplever.

Figs. 2, 18, and 20 show the clutch in its tripped or disengaged condition.

The trip-clutch 25 is placed on the main shaft 26 of the binding mechanism, said shaft being in two parts loosely sleeved together between the two parts of the clutch, as shown in Fig, 19, all so arranged that the drive motion communicated to one part of the shaft 26 by means of the sprocket-wheel 27 is transmitted to the other part of said shaft whenever the clutch is closed. The binder-arm 7, which is secured upon the binder-shaft 31, is provided upon one side with a cam-track, 32, which, as hereinafter described, engages with a rockarm of the knot-tying mechanism to transmit the necessary motion for tying the knot.

The binder-arm carries the twine in the usual manner, and by means of pins 33 it engages with the cam-tracks 34 in the sides of the guard 23 of the binder-arm. By means of this engagement and the fixed pivotal connection 109 of said guard with the cars 22 the operation of said guard is as follows: As soon as the binder-arm starts from its normal position, Fig. 23, to carry the twine over the bundle, the guard is carried with it and compresses the bundle, but it gradually gains on the movement of the binderarm until it is somewhat in advance of it, as shown in the same figure, and also in Fig. 8; but after this position is reached it will not move any farther, but permit the binder-arm to catch up with it again, owing to the travel of the pins 33 in the upper portion of the cam-tracks 34. The object of this is to permit the binder-arm to complete the last portion of its forward travel without altering the size of the bundle, the reason for this being explained hereinafter.

Upon the right-hand portion of the main shaft 26 is secured the pinion 35, Figs. 19 and 20. This meshes with an intermediate pinion, 36, and this latter meshes with the inner portion of the cogs of the crown gear-wheel 37, which is fast upon the shaft 108, and meshes with the outside portion of its cogs into the pinion 38. This latter is sleeved upon the binder-shaft, and upon its sleeve is secured the sprocket-wheel 39, which operates in connection with the sprocket-wheels 42, Fig. 2, one of which is loose upon the binder-shaft, while the other two are secured by the shaft 43. These sprocket-wheels carry the linkbelts 44, to which the extractors 45, Fig. 3, are secured, all so arranged that they carry the bundle off the platform after it is tied. When the binder mechanism is set in motion, the pinion 35 transmits through the pinion 36 motion to the crown-wheel 37. This motion, which is in a direction opposite to the motion of the main shaft, is by the action of the triplever limited to one complete revolution, as hereinafter explained. The shaft 108, which is disconnected from the main shaft 26, transmits its one revolution that it receives from the crown-wheel to the binder-shaft by means of the cranks 28 29 and connecting-link 30. The crown-wheel 37 has secured upon its periphery the earns 46 47, operating in connection with the pawl 48, which latter-is pressed against the face of these cams by a strong spring, 49. The pawl 48 acts as a lockinglatch in connection with the cam 46, to prevent the binding mechanism from being accidentally turned in the wrong direction from its position when out of gear, as shown in Fig. 18. The shoulder 50, against which the pawl 48 rests, in this position is beveled off, and the exact position at which the crown-wheel stops after having made its one prescribed revolu tion just brings the pawl to bear against the beveled-off portion of the shoulder 50; but the tension of the spring 49 is made suiiiciently strong to turn by its own force the crownwheel a little farther until the pawl locks against the shoulder 50. The effect of this movement is to take up the lost motion between the clutch and the crown-wheel, so that no accidental re-engagement of the pawl of the clutch can occur after it is disengaged by the trip-lever.

- In connection with the cam 47 vthe pawl 48 acts as a governor for a twine-tension device, which is arranged as follows: (See Figs. 2, 3, and 21:) To the back of the pawl 48 is secured a spring, 51, the free end of which engages between the perforated cars 52 in such manner that the twine which passes through the perforations in the cars 52 on its way to the binderarm is thereby put under the tension of the spring 51. This tension is relatively light during the travel of the pawl in contact with the periphery of the crown -wheel; but while it travels in contact with the face of the cam the ceases 3 tension is increased. From the relative position of the pawl 48 and the cam 47, as shown in Fig. 18, it will be seen that as soon as the binding mechanism starts up the greater tension is immediately put upon the twine until the twine is carried around the bundle and engaged with the knotter, when the twinetension is relieved by the pawl 48 in parting engagement with the cam 47, as shown in Fig. 3.

The compression of the bundle is effected by the following devices: A crank, 53, is secured to the compressor-shaft 12, and a sliding yoke, 5st, pivotally connected to the crank, embraces the hub of the crown-gear 37, so as to be guided therebyiuits sliding movement, which is brought about during the rotation of the crown-wheel by the pin striking against the pin 56, as shown in Fig. 3, the former being secured to the crown gear-wheel and the latter to the yoke, all so arranged that the movement of the yoke takes place at the desired time and is of the proper degree to obtain the desired movement of the compressor-arm to compress the bundle. The stop 57 on the sliding yoke 51 operates in connection with the flange 58 on the side of the crown gear-wheel to effect the following objects:

First. The compressor-arm, when yielding under. the pressure of the bundle, is limited in said movement by the stop 57 striking against the flange 58, and is thus prevented from yielding any farther than required to start the binding mechanism by tripping the lever 16. The rotation of the crown gear-Wheel 37 carries the flange 58 out of the way by the time the compressor-arm is required to fold back and permit of the bundle being carried off by the extractors.

Second. The flange 58, striking against the stop 57, rights the compressor-arm, after the bundle is extracted, not'quite to its normal position, but suffioiently far to permit the spring 59 of the trip'lever to accomplish the rest. The tension of this latter spring governs the size of the bundle, and it is made, therefore, suitably adjustable, and to prevent its being injuriously strained while the compressor-arm is folded back the triplever hasa curved portion, 60, which relieves the action of the spring, while the pin 14 passes through said curved portion, and by means of a little lug or pin, 61, Fig. 18, on the binder-shaft bearing against the top of the trip-lever during the first stage of the movement of the binding mechanism the trip-lever is prevented from accidentally tripping the clutch before the proper time arrives-that is, after the bundle is released.

The knot-tying devices are directly operated by the movement of the binderarm, which, as before described, is provided with the cam 32. This cam, during a part of the movement of the binder-arm, engages the wristpin 62 of the rock-arm 63. This rockarm actuates a little rock-shaft, which is journaled in bearings 64 on the rear face of the knotter-frame 1, and is provided with a little miter-pinion, 65, which meshes with another miter-pinion, 66.

The knotter 67 oscillates on trunnions 68 69, one of which is journaledin the knotterframe and has the aforementioned pinion 66 secured to it, while the other trunnion is j ournaled in the bracket 70 of the knotter-frame, and has secured to its projecting end the rock-arm 89, which carries the twine-holder and the knife. The knotter is provided with an inner shaft, 73, to one end of which the conical pinion 74: is secured, while the opposite end is provided with the knotter-head 75. The knotter-head is slotted and has pivotally secured within said slot the movable jaw 76, which is pro vided with two projecting lugs or pins, 77 78. As the knotter-shaft rotates theselugs or pins produce the desired movement of the movable jaw in a positive manner by engaging one or the. other with the cam 79, formed on the lower end of the body ofthe knotter. A sufficient number of cogs, 80, on the face of the segmental annular flange 81 of the knotterframe produce by their engagement with the cogs of the pinion on the knotter-shaft one complete revolution of the latter.

The knotter oscillates through an arc ofabout a quarter-circle, or nearly so, Fig. 5, showing it in its two extreme positions, and toproduce this movement it is su'dicient to make the mi ter-pinions 65 66 of segmental shape, as shown. To prevent the knotter-shaft from making more than theone revolutionrequ'ired to form the loop oftheknot, the smooth part of the segmental annular flange 81 is providedwilh an overhanging flange, 83, and the upper end of the pinion 74 is cut away at 82, as shown in Fig. 9, all so arranged that the pinion is locked in position against further rotation as soon as it leaves the cogs 80. The same result is obtained at the normal position of the knotter by means of the overhanging flange 84,and to prevent any accidental displacement of the knotter when in this position the knottershaft is left slightly projecting at its upper end and made to engage into an indentation, 85., of the leaf-spring 86, which is placed on top of the knotter-frame. This lock, however, is only strong enough to hold the k notter against pos sible displacement by the tension of the twine, (which in the normal position of the knotter passes over the head of the same at 87,) but is not strong enough to hold itwhen started by the binder-arm.

The twine-holder consists of the fixed jaw 87 and the yielding jaw 88,(see Fig. 11,) both attached to the rock-arm 89, which is secured to the trunnion 69 of the knotter. The yielding jaw 88 engages by means of a mortise, 71, (Figs. 15 and 16,) with a tenon on the rock-arm 89. It is also provided with a hookguard, 90, and with an adjustable spring, 91, which presses together the two jaws suffi- 'eiently strong to nip the end ofthe twine and hold it firmly.

A curved lever, 92, which performs the office of tucking the twine into the twine-holder,

is pivotally secured at 93. Its free end is grooved at 94 to straddle the twine, and it is also bifurcated, so as to pass on both sides of the jaws, which latter are suitably cut away to form a passage-way, as shown in Figs. 11, 12, and otherwise, so that the tucker may push down the twine between the jaws where they approach each other the nearest and at the same time carry the twine on the side next to the knot across the cutting-edge of the knife 72, so as to sever it with a shearing cut. The knife 72 is adjustably secured to the jaw 87, as shown, so as to bring its cutting-edge into the path of the twine.

The movement of the tucker 92 is derived from the movement of the rock-arm 89, which carries said tucker by means of its cam-groove 100 engaging with a stationary pin or roller, 96, secured to the bracket 70, Figs. 10 and 11, showing the normal position of the tucker in relation to the rock-arm, and Fig. 12 its position when pressing the twine into the knotholder.

To the lower end of the tucker is secured at 97 the finger 98, the office of which is to form a hitch in the twine. It is guided in a groove, 99, Fig. 14:, in the fixed jaw 87, and the movement of the tucker projects it within the path of the twine or retracts it therefrom, all as hereinafter more fully explained.

The operation ofthe knot-tying mechanism is as follows: In the normal position the end of the twine is secured in the twine-h older and passes under the bundle to the forward end of the binder-arm, all in the usual manner. As soon as the bundle is large enough to trip the clutch in the binder mechanism, the binderarm starts in its upward and forward movement and carries the twine around the bundle and through the knotter-frame across the head of the knotter. As soon as the binderarm moves into this position, the eccentric portion ofits cam 32 rocks the rock-arm 63, and thereby oscillates the knotter from the normal position A in Fig. 5 into the position 13, and then back again into the position A. As soon as the knotter begins to oscillate, however, the knotter-shaft is also rotated,and has performed a complete revolution by the time itarrives in the position shown in Fig. 4. During this movement the jaw of the knotter opens and closes in a positive manner, and forms a knot in the manner well known with this kind of knotters. The slack required to form the knot is obtained by the approach of the knotterhead toward the bundle during this part of its movement. During this movement of the knotter the tucker, which has already straddled the twine, carries the latter down into the twine-holder, and by the time the knot is formed it has carried the twine far enough to shear it off on the cutting-edge of the knife, the end of the twine remaining clamped betweenthe jaws of the twine-holder. WVhile the knotter oscillates from the position shown in Fig. 6 into the position B in Fig. 5, the knotter-head has a backing movement, which produces sufficient strain on the band to tighten and strip the knot. By the return movement of the binder-arm all the parts are returned in their normal position, and the twine (the end of which is held in the twine-holder) is carricd back again across the path of thegrain on the binder-platform. being kept from contact with the edge of the knife by the finger 98, which in its normal position lies across the path of the twine. The hook 90 on thetwineholder prevents an accidental displacement of the twine during the tying of the knot, and also helps to guide the twine into the twineholder.

Having explained heretofore the operation of the other parts of the binding mechanism, I wish to call attention to a special advantage derived from the novel construction and arrangement of the binding-gear, which consists in its particular adaptation to be placed directly under the platform in the center of the machine, an advantage which is of great value, as it permits of always keeping the binder balanced, no matter whetherit is tipped backward or forward.

The proper periodicity in the movement of the binding-gear is produced by the pins 61 on the binder-shaft, which bears against the curved portion 101 of the trip-lever during the prescribed movement of the binder-arm, so as to prevent the triplever from tripping the clutch.

What I claim as my invention is 1. In a binder, the combination of a binderarm, a cam on said binder-arm, a knot-tying mechanism, and a rock-shal't, intermediate mechanism between the rock-shaft and the knottying mechanism for operating said knottying mechanism, and said rock-shaft having a rock-arm, 63, provided with a wrist-pin arranged to engage on the cam of the bin der-arm,

all substantially as described.

2. In combination with the binder-arm and its operating-cam, the oscillating knotter 67, the pinions 66 and 65, and the rock-arm 63, all arranged to operate substantially as described.

3. The combination, with an oscillating knotter of the kind described, the pinion 74. on the knotter-shaft, and the stationary segmental flange 81, provided with cogs 80, engaging directly with said pinions, and a spring-stop bearing on the end of the knotter-shaft to prevent its displacement by the tension of the twine, all arranged to operate substantially as described.

4. In combination with an oscillating knotter of the kind described, the conical pinion 74:, secured to the knotter-shaft, and having the delay-shoe 82 and the annular segmental flange 81, having cogs 80, and overhanging locking flanges 83 84, the said shaft extended beyond the pinion, and an apertured springstop engaging said extension of the shaft, all arranged to operate as described.

5. In combination with the oscillating knotter, the pinion 7 1 on the knotter-shaft, and

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the segmental cogged flange 81, the overhanging flange 84, and the spring 86, having indentation 85, arranged to normally hold theknotter imposition against the tension of the twine, substantially as described.

6. In a binder, the combination of a knotter of the kind described, and the trunnions upon which said knotter oscillates, miter-pinion 66 on one of said trunn'ions, and connections, substantially as described, between said pinion and the binder-arm, constructed to actuate said knotter on both sides of a vertical plane to approach the knotter-head to the bundle while the knot is being formed and withdraw it therefrom while stripping the knot, substantially as described.

7. The combination of a knotter journaled on trunnions, a binder-arm, means connected with one of these trunnions and adapted to'be engaged and operated by the binder-arm for oscillating the knotter, a pinion on the knotter-shaft, asegmental annular flange having cogs and arranged to operate the knotter-head through the medium of said pinion, and a twine holding and cutting device carried by a rock-arm secured to the other trunnion of the knotter, all arranged substantially as described.

8. In combination with the oscillating knotter 67, the bracket 70, the rock-arm 89, secured to one of the trunnions of the knotter, the tucker-arm 92, pivotally secured to the rock-arm 89, and having a cam-groove, and of the pin or roller 96 on the bracket engaging into said cam grooves, all arranged to operate in connection with the twine-holder and knife, substantially as described.

9. In combination with the tucker 92, pivotally secured and operating in connection with the twine-holding jaws 87 88, substantially as described, the finger 98, secured to the tucker and operating in a guiding-slot, 99, all arranged to operate substantially as described.

10. In combination with the knotter-frame l, the knotter 67, journaled on trunnions, means connected with one of said trunnions and adapted to be engaged and operated by the binder-arm for oscillating the knotter, the knotter-pinion 74, the rack for operating the knotter-pinion by the oscillation of the knot ter, the bracket 70, having pin 96, the rockarm 89, secured to one of the-trunnions of the knotter, the-tucker 92, pivotally secured to ,said rock-arm, the camgroove 100 on the tucker, the twine-holding jaws 87 88, the finger 98, and .the knife 72,all arranged and operating as a knot-tying device, substantially as described.

11. In combination with the knotter 67, journaled in trunnions, segmental miter-pinions 66 on one of said trunnions, miter-pinion on the shaft of the rock-arm 63, and intermediate mechanism,substantially as described, between said pinions and the binder-arm, constructed to give said knotter an oscillatory movement from the normal position described to a like position onthe opposite side of a central plane and then back again, the knotter-pinion 7 4,and cogs 80,for rotating the knotter-shaft one revolution at the beginning and end of each oscillation, substantially as described.

12. In combination, the bindenarm, the bifurcated guard 23, eccentrically pivoted in relation to said binder-arm, the substantially L-shaped cam-grooves 34 on said guard, and the pins 33 on the binder-arm engaging with the cam-grooves, all substantially as described.

13. In combination, the binder-arm shaft, the pin 61 on the binder-arm shaft, the compression-arm 11, pin 14 thereon, the trip-lever 15, the curved portions 60 and 101 in said trip-lever, and the compressor-shaft 12, engaging the curved portion 60, substantially as described.

14. In combination, the main shaft 26, the trip-clutch 25, the cranks 28 29, connections between said clutch and the crank 28, the connecting-link 30, the binder-arm shaft 31, and the binder'arm 7, cam-track 32 on the binder arrn, and the rock-arm of the knot-tying mechanism, substantially as described.

15. In combination with the compressor, the compressor-shaft 12, the rock-arm 53, the sliding yoke 54, the gear-wheel 37, arranged to make one revolution, the pin 55, the flange 58, the pin 56, and the flange 57, all arranged to operate substantially as described.

16. In combination with the binder-arm, a variable twine-tension consisting of the cam 47, arranged to make one revolution, the pawl 48, the twine-tension spring 51, and the perforated cars 52, all arranged substantially as described.

17. In combination with the compressorarm, the trip-pin 14 thereon, the trip-lever 15, having curved portions 60 and 101, the clutch 25, the main shaft 26, the cranks 28 29, the connecting-link 30, the binder-shaft 31, and the pin 61 on the binder-arm shaft, all arranged to operate substantially as described.

ADELBERT L. G'EER.

Witnesses:

H. S. SPRAGUE, Guns. THURMAN. 

